Javi Lopez has played against some of the best players in the world, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Kaka, Gareth Bale and Andres Iniesta. So, when the Adelaide United star speaks, you listen.
In his 18-year professional football career, Javi Lopez has only seen one player with the quality of his Adelaide United teammate Nestory Irankunda at the age of 17.
That player is Lionel Messi.
Former Espanyol captain Lopez has watched Irankunda develop up close and personal at Coopers Stadium, where the Adelaide teenager has taken the Isuzu UTE A-League by storm.
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Aged just 17, Irankunda – who was drafted into the Socceroos’ squad for March’s international friendlies against Ecuador – holds the A-League Men record for most goals scored by the age of 18 (eight) having found the back of the net five times as a substitute this season.
He has also been linked with a move to Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich as the Reds sensation continues to attract plenty of attention.
Adelaide veteran Lopez showered Irankunda in the ultimate praise ahead of Friday night’s Elimination Final against Wellington Phoenix.
“I receive a lot of messages from some agents asking for him and I say to them, never in my life have I been with a player his age… only one, Messi and him,” the 37-year-old Spaniard, who moved to Adelaide from Spain’s LaLiga in 2020, told KEEPUP.
“At his age, I only saw Messi and him at this level. The power, the skills. Never in my life at 17 years of age have I seen a player like him and Messi.
“The level hopefully, he continues improving and continues with the mindset on the correct side because he has a good, good future. We can say now, (it’s not) 100% he will arrive to be one of the best players but he is on the way now.
“It depends on him, his family because he is young. He needs people around him, pushing him in the right direction.
“Here, he has the environment with the players and club. We try to help him always. But, you never know.”
You can watch Irankunda in action this Friday night by purchasing tickets here!
